Purdys CentralHigh Masthead

This memory was written by Bob Field '63 and told at the premiere of his video
"ONE MORE DAY - CENTRAL REMEMBERS" on Oct. 11, 2013.


Purdys Central High Baseball Champs 1962

Recalling Purdys Central’s NCAA “Almost’er!”

"One More Day…”?
How ‘Bout Just One More Game!

Seeing Bob Field’s ('63) classic jacket with its “UWPL Champs 1962” baseball patch, recalls one of the great “what ifs” in Purdys Central High sports lore.

bob field 63

Seems that in June, 1966, the Colby College Mules, with Bob playing second base, were ranked # 1 in the Northeast, locked in regional play at Fenway Park, and just one game away from going to the College World Series in Omaha.  Meanwhile, Mid- South power West Virginia, with Bob Tompkins ('64) catching, were also one game away from heading to Omaha.  And, get this…the Midwest juggernaut U of Michigan, with Larry Guidi ('64) pitching lights-out ball, were also a win away from “The Big Show” in Nebraska!

One guess what happened.  Yep, all three teams were upended in their respective NCAA Regional championship games!

Now, just think “what if?”  Had the Mules, Mountaineers and Wolverines each won their regionals, three dudes from little old Purdys Central High’s championship days would have met again on the sun-drenched diamond of venerable Rosenblatt Stadium in Cornhusker territory.  Now, there’s an “almost’er” for yuh! And, those oldie-goldie Central memories just keep comin’.  Send us some of yours!

“Baseball is a soap opera that lends itself to probabilistic thinking. [Dick Cramer]”― Michael Lewis, Moneyball : The Art of Winning an Unfair Game

Story as told by Bob Field '63
Photos by Pier "Peter" Guidi '62